Difference between SAP and SAS

Last Updated : 16 Sep, 2024

If the business and organizations are involved in processes, which require the utilization of large amounts of data, its management and analysis for purposes of decision-making becomes crucial. One commercial software solution being used by businesses to handle data is SAP while the other is SAS, although the two have different functions. SAP is more targeted as Enterprise resource planning software applications and Business management whereas SAS has a strength in its analytics data. It educates businesses on the differences between SAP and SAS so that they can choose on which tool to use depending on the requirements of the business.

In this article, we are going to learn what is the difference between SAP and SAS.

What is SAP?

System Application Product (SAP), as the name suggests, is a software tool that is used by organization to efficiently manage their all operations as well as purchasing and assets. It simply covers all areas of business.

Key Features of SAP

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP): SAP consolidates several branches of a business such as financials, supply chain, sales, and personnel.
Modules: SAP provides various options like SAP FICO, SAP MM, SAP HCM, and many more.
Business Process Management: SAP optimizes processes and brings effectiveness to an organization’s processes by presenting a detailed picture of operations.

for more: SAP Full Form | Meaning, Characteristics, Advantages & Disadvantages

What is SAS?

Statistical Analysis System (SAS), as name suggests, is a software tool that is used by organization to manage data, advanced analytics, multivariate analysis i.e. observing and analyzing statistical variable more than one at a time.

Key Features of SAS

Data Analytics: Statistical Analysis Software or SAS is well renowned for its potent tools for statistics that enable one to analyze the data.
Business Intelligence: SAS assists organizations to extract information from within into information that can support the decision making processes.
Predictive Analytics: SAS facilitates and make possible the usage of predictive analyses; future trends and machine learning from past performance.

for more: Introduction to SAS programming

Difference between SAP and SAS

Here are the following difference between SAP and SAS:

SAP	SAS
It is mainly used for business analyst, project management.	It is mainly used for statistical analysis and predictive analysis.
It generally focuses on resource management.	It generally focuses on data management.
It does not provide any graphical representation.	It provides graphical representation of visual data for easily understanding.
It also manages accounting and financial operations.	It does not manage accounting and financial operations.
SAP is user friendly and therefore mostly used by users.	SAS is not user friendly and therefore rarely used by users.
It is an easy process and is very simple to use.	It is not an easy process and is difficult to use.
It includes BO (Business Object) Products.	It does not include BO (Business Object) Products.
It is an efficient tool, easy to implement and affordable.	It is not efficient, not easy to implement but is affordable.
It is mainly used by organizations like TCS, IBM, etc.	It is mainly used by organizations like Infosys, cognizant, etc.

Conclusion

SAP and SAS are two different tools yet they are very relevant in helping businesses. Whereas, SAP is indispensable for the organizations that aspire to run their business with better resource control and management, SAS is what businesses that focus on data analysis for quick decision making need. The decision of which is better between the two is determined by the fact whether the organization requires the capabilities offered by ERP which is offered by SAP or the analytical ability and the business intelligence offered by SAS.